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This book aims at giving the basis of primordial cosmology. The book is self-contained in the sense that all the elements for the derivations of the presented results are given. It can be used as a textbook to study cosmology.
It is devided in 3 parts. Part 1 summarises the fundamentals in theoretical physics needed in cosmology (general relativity, field theory, particle physics). Part 2 describes the standard model of cosmology and includes cosmological solutions of Einstein equations, hot big bang model, cosmological perturbation theory, cosmic microwave background anisotropies, lensing and evidences for dark matter, and inflation. Part 3 describes extensions of this model and opens up to today's research in the field: scalar-tensor theories, supersymetry, the cosmological constant problem and acceleration of the universe, topology of the universe, grand unification and baryogenesis, topological defects and phase transitions, string inspired cosmology including branes and latest developments. The book provides details of all derivations and leads the student up to the level of research articles.
Introduction
Part I: Overview of the Theoretical Basis
1: General Relativity
2: Overview of Particle Physics
Part II: The Modern Standard Cosmological Model
3: The Homogeneous Universe
4: The Standard Big Bang Model
5: The Inhomogeneous Universe
6: The Cosmic Microwave Background
7: Gravitational Lensing and Dark Matter
8: Inflation
Part III: Beyond the Standard Models
9: Grand Unification and Baryogenesis
10: Phase Transitions and Topological Defects
11: Extensions of the Theoretical Framework
12: Cosmological Extensions
13: String Cosmology
A: Numerical Values
B: Special Functions
C: Useful Cosmological Quantities
P. Peter: Post-doctoral position at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP), Cambridge University. Research positions: Chargé de Recherches (1994-2002), Medaille de bronze (bronze medal) du CNRS (1995), Directeur de Recherches, Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris since 2002.
J.P. Uzan: Post-doctoral position at the Department of Theoretical Physics (DPT), Geneva University. Research positions: Chargé de Rechecherches au CNR, teaches the course of Theoretical Cosmology at the Ecole Normale Supérieure, teaches at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris.
"Fills a niche that other recent cosmology texts leave open, namely self-contained derivations in cosmology that span both fundamental issues and applications to the real universe that are of great interest to observers."
- Joseph Silk, University of Oxford
"A remarkable book. Written with great authority and enthusiasm, it gives a comprehensive view of primordial cosmology today. The style is accessible to a novice for a good introduction, as well as being technically precise enough to be useful for specialists."
- Ted Jacobson, University of Maryland
